Suspension device for beds



g- 12, 1952 R. H. CONJNALLY 2,606,329

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR BEDS Filed Feb. 11, 1949 BY CZ! ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1952 Robert H. Connally, Stephenville, Tex. Application February 11, 1949, Serial No. 75,854

Claims. (01. 5-238) This invention relates to suspension devices for bedsteads having end frames and connecting side rails on each side for supporting springs and mattresses, and it has particular reference to a device for preventing a displacement of conventional bed slats employed for supporting the springs and mattress, and a person occupying the said bed, and its principal object resides in the provision of an arrangement of a pair of supporting strips along each connecting side rail for supporting the slats, and a plurality of especially designed and transverse members supported on said supporting strip and having means attached thereto for limiting the inward movement of the said strips under unusual stresses, such as the weight applied thereto by heavy individuals whose ordinarily excessive weight tends to spread the side rails causing the supporting slots to be dislocated from the rails and allow the springs and mattress to drop.

An object of the invention is that of providing an economical and simple arrangement for supporting the springs and mattress, with the occupants of a bed, by arranging flexible strips along the side rails ordinarily supporting the slats of the bed so that the weight of the occupants thereof will bear upon these supporting strips, which are supported by the side rails, but which will yield or flex under the weight of the occupants of the bed without spreading the side rails outwardly to release the ends of the slats supported thereby.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of an arrangement of a plurality of slats having appurtenances attached to each end and depending downwardly therebeneath to engage the supporting strips and limit their inward flexing under a load and prevent the displacement of the slats, and to provide, if desirable, adjustability for the appurtenances and the slats for beds of different widths, and adapting the devices to be attached to conventional slats with a minimum of difficulty.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure l is a transverse cross-sectional view of a bed, showing one end frame in elevation, the side rails supporting a pair of supporting strips, and illustrating a slat arranged transversely thereof and supported at each end by said strips.

Figure 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of one of the side rails having the supporting strips 2 arranged thereon and illustrating, fragmentarily, atransverse slat having a limiting stop attached thereto adjacent to the said strip.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one form of adjustable stop employedin the invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rectangular collar employed in securing the adjustable stop illustrated in Figure 3.

' Figure 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of one end of a conventional slat on which the adjustable and detachable stop is shown attached.

Figure 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of one of the supporting strips and a special steel transverse slat connected thereto.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the stop shown attached to one end of a conventional slat, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of an extensible steel cross-member or slat such as that illustrated in Figure 6. I

The invention contemplates the provision of a device which is adapted to be installed in any of the several types of conventional beds having head and foot members connected with side rails for supporting a plurality of slats which in turn support the springs and mattress of the bed. In such conventional structures the side rails l0 ordinarilyhave cleats l l secured along the lower inner sides thereof, as illustrated in cross-section in Figures 1 and 2. The cleats ll generally support the conventional slats I2 on which the springs and mattress are supported. The side rails ID are conventionally supported at each end by end frames l3 which are ordinarily referred to as the head and foot members of the bed.

In the conventional structure, whether the beds are of wood or metal, unusual weights have a tendency to spread the side rails l0, especially along their mid-sections, to the extent where the conventional slats l2 are dislocated and allowed to fall, dropping the springs and mattress. Various methods, such as the tying of the side rails [0 across intermediate'the end frame I3, have been employed to prevent the slats I2 from being dislocated from the cleats II but such devices are not generally satisfactory. In order to overcome such difliculties a pair of supporting strips M are provided which in turn are supported along the cleats I l in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the conventional slats l2 arranged along these strips.

The supporting strips M are generally of a relatively thin material which is flexible, and these members are adapted to flex inwardly under weight applied to the mattress and springs. Therefore, instead of spreading the side rails I outwardly and releasing the slat I2 from the cleats II, the supporting strips I4 flex or incline inwardly and for this reason are capable of retaining the slats, frictionally engaging the upper edges of the strips I 4, in preventing the same from dislocation.

In order to prevent the strip I I from flexing inwardly too far it .is desirable to provide special stops I5 which may be attached to each end of the conventional slats I2 and limit the inward flexing of the strips I4, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The members I5 comprise metal plates having angular flanges formed at one end which, when the stops I5 are attached near the'end :of the conventional slats I2, have their. angular flanges I8 depending beneath the slats I2 and spaced from the supporting strip I4 so that slight inward movements or flexing of the latter can be accomplished, though limiting such .inward movement by the depending flanges I:6 of the stops I5. It is also contemplated that the stops 45 may be modified in several dlfierent ways, if desired, since the-devices shown iii-Figures 1 and 2 are adapted to be secured'by screws, or similar devices, to the slats I2 and thus be incapable of adjustment after installation.

In Figure 3 is illustrated a cast stop I'I whose body is formed wedgershaped and at its thicker end has a depending right angular flange 180pposite the engaging surface, which is preferably formed with ribs or corrugations I9 which engage the underside of the slats 1-2 to prevent the member from-dislocation after it is fixed by a special rectangularly formed collar 20, shown in Figures 4 and 5, forced toward the flange I8 longitudinally along the member I1 to firmly secure the same to the underside of the slat IZin the manner shown in Figure --5.. This arrangement will provide for the attachment of the stop IT to any conventional slat I2, regardless of the width of the bed to which it is to be applied.

A still further modification of the stop is illustrated in Figure 7 and comprises a stamped device consisting of a plate 2I having upturned flanges 22 on each side and a right-angular or depending flange 23 on one end extendin opposite the flanges 22. A pair of projections 24 are formed with the flanges Y22 and are capable of being turned over the top of a conventional slat I2, the latter reposing between the flanges 22 on the plate 2 I, and secured by screws or rivets 25 on top of the slat I2. The flange 23 is spaced the proper distance from the end of the slat I2 to accommodate the supporting members I4 and permit these members to move outwardly to a desirable degree.

In applying the invention to beds of different widths, such as half beds, three-quarter beds, and the like, it is desirable to provide extensible members 26, such as that illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, which may be employed at each end of the bed and transversely intermediate its ends. vIn this structure it is desirablerto provide an open slot v 4 that the slats having the stop secured thereto be arranged at each end of the bed and transversely thereof intermediate the end frame members, the remainder of the slats being of conventional character without having the stops I5 or I! attached thereto,

The supporting members I4, while preferably of long wooden strips of relatively narrow width and thicknesses, may be formed of fibers of different types having sufficient firmness to support weights generally applied to beds while yet sufiiciently flexible to yield slightly to weights applied thereto, the stops I5 and I1 preventing the excessive yieldability of the member I4 to allow the latter to turn over and drop on" of the cleats I I on which they are supported.

Other variations of the device are contemplated, and may be resorted to from time to time .byipersons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for supportin slats for beds, in combination with a bedstead having head and foot members and supporting rails connected therebetween, each having a longitudinal cleat along its lower edge, a pair of strips arranged along and supported by the said rails, a plurality of transverse members'adapted to be supported at each end by said strips near said head and foot members and intermediate said members, each of said transverse members having adjustable means on .each end thereof limiting the lateral movement-of said strips under a load and bearing outwardly against said strips under said load.

2. In-asupporting device for beds, in combination with a bedstead having end members and side railsconnecting the same, a -cleat attached to each-of said rails and extending longitudinally thereof along its lower edge, a strip arranged along each side rail and supported on the cleat thereon, a transverse slat adapted'to be supported at each end on-each strip near each end member of said bedstead and intermediate said end members, means detachably secured at each end of each of said slats providing a bearing for said strips limiting the lateral inward movement of said strips under a load. 3. In a supporting device for beds, in combination with a bedstead having head and foot members and side rails connecting the same and having supporting cleats thereon, a flexible strip detachably supported along each of said cleats on said side rails and capable of flexing inwardly independently of said cleats under a load, a plurality of transverse slats arranged on said strips and supported on each end thereby, and means detachably secured on each end of said slats engageable with said strips to limit the inward movement thereof under a load.

4. In a supporting device for slats in a bed, in combination with a bedstead having end frames and side rails connecting the same and having cleats secured longitudinally of their inner lower edge, a strip supported along each side rail and capable of flexing inwardly under a load independently of said rails and said cleats, a plurality of extensible slat members arranged transversely of said bedstead and supported at each end by said strips, and means on each end of each of said slats engageable with said strips limiting the inward flexing of the latter.

5. In a device for supporting springs and mattresses on .beds, in combination with a bedstead having end frames connectedby side rails and REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Mott Feb. 28, 1882 Fernau Feb. 12, 1889 Labiberte May 3, 1892 Weaver Feb. 1, 1898 Cooper July 22, 1902 Gray June 10, 1930 

